A wind turbine drive system includes a plurality of drive devices, a state quantity detection unit, a ring gear braking portion, and a control unit. The plurality of drive devices are provided in a first structure, and a ring gear is provided in a second structure. Each of the drive devices includes a motor drive portion and a speed reducing portion. The state quantity detection unit detects a load between a meshing portion of each of the drive devices and the ring gear. When a degree of variation in the load among the drive devices is outside a permissible range, the control unit performs a first control process of controlling the motor drive portion to prevent an increase in the degree of variation in the load and/or a second control process of controlling the ring gear braking portion.

A recirculating gradient power system includes a motion carrier, a counterweight, power cylinders and a control module. A central vertical axis of the motion carrier has a rotating shaft pivotally connected with the counterweight. The power cylinders connected with a pressure source are evenly arranged at diagonal corners around the periphery of the central vertical axis. The control module connected with the power cylinders controls operation of the power cylinders which are set in advance when the counterweight is rotationally displaced to a predetermined stroke. The pressure source sequentially provides compressed gas fluid to the power cylinders to make the motion carrier continuously change its tilt orientation and tilt angle, thus forming a virtual continuous gradient. The counterweight is rotationally displaced from a high point of the motion carrier toward a lower point of the motion carrier about the rotating shaft by gravity, and the rotating shaft rotates continuously.

A water driven system for generating useful work has a floating support structure with a pair of spaced apart frame portions. A waterwheel is mounted between the two spaced apart frame portions in an upright manner. The waterwheel has a number of radially extending spokes for turning the waterwheel in response to a flow of water against the spokes when the floating support structure is mounted on a moving body of water. The waterwheel has outwardly extending axle shafts which are used to produce useful work as the wheel rotates.

A power-take-off system for use in a wave energy converter buoy employs a meshing nut and screw shaft assembly for motion conversion. That is, the motion of the buoy float is coupled to drive the nut along the screw shaft on which it is mounted. The linear movement of the nut along the shaft causes the shaft to rotate and this rotational motion is then coupled to rotate an electrical generator.

The present invention is directed to a system for producing energy via use of gravity. The system is for generating energy, and in particular electrical energy, by utilizing the abundant force of gravity that exists and then integrating such a force into a system design of energy power generation by converting the force of gravity into potential energy then into kinetic energy and from kinetic energy back into potential energy again, by using the system's autonomous methodology of fluid recycling to produce electric power generation in the process.

The present invention relates to a horizontal-shaft/vertical-transmission wind turbine for generating electricity, which may be on-shore or off-shore, with reduced materials and structures in the nacelle, mast and foundation, which moves much of the equipment to the base of the mast, thereby reducing capex, enabling significant reductions in the operation and maintenance costs of the turbines, and reducing the cost of the installed power (installed MW) in a wind farm. The mechanical energy coming from the rotor is transmitted by a vertical shaft system (6) along the mast, which incorporates naval technology, and which is based on platforms (1) to neutralize harmonics and is connected to H/Vst (3) and V/Hmvst (4) transmissions, coupled using contraction and expansion joints (2). In addition to this, the rotor orientation system (YAW control) (29), which is connected to the torque control of the transmissions, the brake control and the blade pitch control, enables the rotor to be properly positioned. The invention enables radio communication between masts and with a control center over an aerial interface, which increases the reliability and general safety of the system.

Horizontal axis W/T of low wind speeds of propeller type, bearing a main rotor of three blades (1), while in the space between two successive blades (1) and diametrically opposite to the third, an additional 4th blade (2) also of propeller type but of significantly longer length, is interposed. This additional blade (2) is not permanently coupled but selectively engaged in the system of the W/T at low wind speeds, contributing to the startup and enhancing the energy production. The blade (2) bears diametrically opposite a counterweight (15) to balance the forces developed, and rotates in a plane parallel to the main rotor. The coupling of the blade (2) is preferably made at the stand-by state or at low wind speed operation of the W/T, while the uncoupling will be performed during operating state and at the rated power. The blade (2) after uncoupling, gets in vertical position and remains immobilized attached to the tower.

A one-way clutch structure includes: a pair of clutch members disposed between an output shaft and a drive shaft so as to oppose each other in an axial direction; and an engagement element interposed between these clutch members. When a rotation speed of the output shaft exceeds a rotation speed of the drive shaft, the engagement element engages with the clutch portion to connect the output shaft and the drive shaft so as to be integrally rotatable. When the rotation speed of the output shaft becomes lower than the rotation speed of the drive shaft, the engagement of the engagement elements is released to cut off connection between the output shaft and the drive shaft.

A system for emergency lubrication, with a lubricant pump (113) and with at least one outlet opening (125) for delivering lubricant to at least a first lubrication point (107) of a transmission (101), in particular a transmission of a wind turbine. The system includes a first cavity (203), and the lubricant pump (113) is designed to convey at least some of the lubricant into the first cavity (203). The first cavity (203) is designed to store the lubricant intermediately and to act upon the intermediately stored lubricant with positional energy. In addition, there is a lubricant-conveying connection between the first cavity (203) and the outlet opening (125).

A method and associated system are provided for removing a drive train component, such as a gearbox, from a rotor shaft uptower in a wind turbine, wherein the component is supported by transversely extending mounting arms at mount locations on the wind turbine frame. The drive train component is supported from above or below and the mount locations. At each mount location, a removal fixture is installed that includes an actuator that moves linearly essentially parallel to the rotor shaft. The mounting arms are simultaneously engaged with the respective actuators, which are controlled to linearly push the mounting arms until the drive train component disengages from the rotor shaft.